Minister Responds to Students' Report on Bullying

The Department of Education is planning a series of provincewide training sessions to help teachers and others reduce and prevent bullying in their schools. The sessions will start in the fall as part of the department's response to recommendations from high school students.

Education Minister Angus MacIsaac met with members of the Provincial Student Education Council today, July 2, to review and discuss the department's response to their report Addressing Bullying in Nova Scotia: A Student's Perspective.

"I am pleased to say that we accept all the recommendations put forward by the Provincial Student Education Council to try to end bullying," said Mr. MacIsaac. "All students deserve to go to school free from the fear of any type of abuse, including bullying and I'm certain the recommendations will help attain that goal."

The minister also thanked members of the council for their good work over the year and said students would continue to be actively involved as the department works to reduce and prevent bullying in schools.

Comprising 28 students in grades 10 to 12, the Provincial Student Education Council first met in June 2002. In October 2002, the council held six youth symposia across the province to obtain feedback directly from the province's young people on the issue of bullying. In December 2002, the council released a report on the issue of bullying from a student's perspective with three recommendations:

• Provide workshops for teachers and guidance counsellors focusing on bullying.
• Implement Respect for Diversity Day programs in every school.
• Youth health offices should be part of every junior and senior high school in the province.

In response to the report, Mr. MacIsaac said the Department of Education will:

• Hold a series of information training sessions to include a focus on bullying in each school board in 2003-04. The sessions will be the chance for school representatives to focus on awareness about the nature and incidence of bullying and develop a comprehensive, school-wide approach to reduce and prevent bullying in schools.

• Expand the number of schools with Comprehensive Guidance and Counselling programs and provide ongoing in-service and professional development for those already implementing the program to support a school-wide approach to providing guidance and counselling services.

• Develop a provincial guide to assist schools in planning events that promote respect, acceptance and social education through student-led discussions. Such an event could be similar in scope to Respect for Diversity Day at Horton High School in Wolfville.

• Consider ways to assist the Multicultural Association of Nova Scotia to expand the Youth Against Racism program.

• Support the expansion of youth health offices in junior and senior high schools in the province. There are currently 25 youth health centres in the province, many of them in schools. The Department of Education guidelines for new school construction require that space for a youth health centre be provided where community support warrants.

Kelsey Tonner, former president of the council, said he is glad to see the province is supporting the recommendations of the council. "Bullying is not an easy problem to solve, but this is a big step in the right direction," he said.

The actions the department will take to address bullying in schools is in addition to many initiatives already underway. The Department of Education currently provides support to schools through a variety of curriculum resources and safe school initiatives, some of which directly or indirectly target bullying and encourage positive behaviours.

Examples of initiatives include leadership teams from each school board trained to support the implementation of the co-operative discipline resource for teachers and school administrators and the introduction of a new code of conduct. The department also provides comprehensive guidance and counselling, peer mediation and ongoing support for the League of Peaceful Schools program.